Draw works for rotary drilling machines



Oct. 31, 1933.

1.. J BLACK DRAW WORKS FOR ROTARY DRILLING MACHINES Filed April 29, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet III-III -I-I-I-I-I-l .I III. II II "II II IIIIIIIIII IIIIII II I gwuentoc FIFU Oct. 31, 1933. J. BLACK DRAW WORKS FOR ROTARY DRILLING MACHINES Filed April 29, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue'ntoz Lee J BZMA 5:51, W

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Oct. 31, 1933. L. .1. BLACK DRAW WORKS FOR ROTARY DRILLING MACHINES Filed April 29, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 31, 1933 DRAWVWORKS FOR. ROTARY DRILLING MACHINES Lee J. Black, Beaumont, Tex.

Application April 29, 1930. Serial lilo. 448,323

8 Claims.

This invention relates to drum driving mechanism and particularly to the draw works of rotary well drilling mechanism, which mechanism is used for drilling operations in deep wells. At the present time, in rotary well drilling, a string of drill pipe is rotated by suitable equipment located on the derrick floor and adjacent the draw works. The drill stems are formed usually of six inch pipe, but seven inch pipe is coming into use and some operators are even using eightinch pipe. This eight inch pipe will weigh approximately 32 lbs. per foot. The six inch pipe will weigh approximately 26 lbs. per foot and inasmuch as frequently six thousand feet of six inch pipe are used in a drilling system producing a weight of 156,000 lbs., which has to be handled continually, an equipment of unusual strength is necessary to be used, and modern practice requires that this shall be capable of easy and rapid operation. I

The tendency of these long strings ofheavy drill pipe is to bend and vibrate and this together with the changes in the formation through which the drill is operating causes the bit to leave the perpendicular and to drill crooked or slanting holes. Therefore, it is necessary to determine by suitable instruments from time to time the straightness of the hole heing drilled andsuch determination is usually made at each one hundred feet of hole or at any rate as often as the iormation changes.

To operate these testing instruments, it is common to have a drum separate from the main drum upon which the operator can wind a line of sufficient length to run single with the measuring instruments or other means attached to the end of the line and it is not uncommon in present day practice to require a line of eight thousand feet. To meet this condition, operators have been installing separate units with winding drums operated from a second source of power. This is expensive and because of the congestion on the derrick floor, is hard to suitably install.

With these considerations in mind, the object of my present invention is to meetthese conditions by providing a single operating unit driven from the source of power which will provide means for driving a maindrum at a plurality of speeds, will provide a second drum upon which the testing line or other equipment may be reeled, which equipment shall not take up too mch room on the derrick floor, but be of sufficient compact formation as to allow space to stand the sections of the drill stem on the derrick and provide room for the operators to properly function.

A further object is to provide a single unit whichwill perform all of the operations performed by two units, with two sources of power, provide multiple speeds to handle the different operations, make the structure so compact that it will occupyless space in the derrickv than present standard drawworks, and provide a construction which will permit operations to becarried on with ease and expedition.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description. j

My invention is illustrated in the accompaying drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a draw works constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed view through the shaft A showing in section one of the sprocket wheels and the coacting spiral clutch.

Referring to these drawings, itwill be seen that I have mounted upon a supporting frame designated generally 10, the shafts A, B, C and D all of which shafts extend longitudinally of the frame. The shaft A is a driving shaft common to the shafts C and D and the shaft B is a countershaft operatively connected to the drum shaft D as will be later described to drive it.

The shaft A drives the upper drum shaft C directly and the lower or main drum shaft D indirectly through shaft B. Considering the driving shaft A, and particularly with reference to Figure 2, there is splined upon this shaft the sprocket wheel 11. This sprocket wheel is the main driving sprocket wheel and secures its power from a sprocket wheel 12 mounted upon a power shaft 13 by means of the sprocket chain 14. Thus it will be seen that the shaft A is directly driven by the power shaft.

Loosely mounted upon the shaft A are the two sprocket wheels 15 and 16 and between these sprocket wheels is disposed double acting clutch 17 which when in a neutral position, is out of engagement with either of the sprocket wheels 15 or 16, but which when shifted in one direction or the other will engage one or the other ofthese sprocket wheels. The sprocket wheels 15 and, 16

are connected to sprocket wheels 18 and 19 fast upon the shaft B by means of the sprocket chains 20. vThe sprocket wheel ,19 is less indiameter than the sprocket wheel 18 and thus the shaft B may be driven at .two different speeds from the shaft A. The shaft B as shown in Figure 2 is disposed no drum shaft D will speed. If, however, the

1 high speed. Thus two speeds from mounted upon below the shaft A and carries fast upon it the two sprocket wheels 21 and 22, these having different diameters, the sprocket wheel 22 being larger than the sprocket wheel 21. Mounted upon the drum shaft D are the sprocket wheels 23 and 24 having different diameters, the sprocket wheel 23 being larger: than the sprocket wheel 24 and the sprocket wheel-23is connected to the sprocket wheel 21 by means of the chain 25 while the sprocket wheel 22 is connected to the sprocket wheel 24 by means of the chain 26. The sprocket wheel 23 is loose upon the drum and is adapted to be engaged withthis shaft D of the main drum by means of the spiralclutch 27. I

The sprocket wheel 24 is loose upon the shaft D of the main clutched to this shaft D by clutch 28. It will thus be of the main drum may be means of the dental seen that the shaft driven at any one of j four different speeds or, of course, not drivenat all if the clutch 17 be in a neutral position. If

- the clutch 1'7 be shifted to engage with the "sprocket wheel 15, the shaft B will be driven at one speed and if the clutch 27 be thrown in, the be driven at a relatively slow clutch 28 be thrown in, the drum shaft D will be driven at a relatively I show a mechanism which is capable of driving the shaft B at either one of the shaft A and driving the drum shaft D at either one of two speeds from the shaft B. r

The shaft D carries upon it the winding drum 29 which is constructed in-the usual manner of winding drums of this type and is provided with the brake flanges 30 over which pass the usual brakes 31. Of course, the shaft-A may be driven in. either one of two directions by reversing the engine. 1

Mounted slightly rearward of this drum is the winding drum 32 mounted upon the shaft C. This drum is also capable of being driven at two different I speeds. For this purpose there is mounted upon .the shaft A the sprocket wheel 33 which is loose upon the. shaft A but which maybe engaged withthe shaft A bymeans of the spiral clutch 34. This sprocket wheel33 is engaged bya chain 36 with a-sprocket wheel which loosely the shaft C but, is engaged with the shaft C by the spiral 'clutch- 3'1.

when the clutch 34 is thrown in, the sprocket f wheel as is driven and when the clutch 37 is thrownin, the sprocket wheel 36 drives the upperdrum shaft C. Mounted upon the shaft; A is the sprocket wheel 38 which is loose upon the shaft A andcoacting therewith is the dental clutch 39.

:The sprocket wheel 38 is engaged by means of a chain 40 with a sprocket wheel 41. which is loose upon the shaft C but may be clutched to the shaft C by the dental clutch 42. It will be understood, of course, that the sprocket wheels 33 and I '35 are so proportioned as to drive the drum shaft C at a relatively slow speed while the sprocket wheels 38 and 41 drive the upper drum shaft C at Also mounted upon the frame of the machine which also carries upon it at its outerextremity the cat head 4'7. This sprocket wheel 48 is driven shaft D of the main drum, but is capable of being.

above the drum 29 but in a plane I clutches 3'7 'or .42. .that the lower drum shaft and the upper drum a relatively high speed. The upper drum 32 is.

- also provided with the drum flanges 43 having .brakes44 passing thereover.

"shaft 45 and driven whenever required. Disposed ai fthe opposite end of the frame and supported in suitable bearings therein is a shaft 52 carrying the cat head 53 and also carrying the sprocket wheel 54. This is driven by a sprocket chain from asprocket wheel 55 fixed upon and rotated with the shaft A. Thus it will be seen that both cat headsare continuously driven as long as the shaft A is driven.

The drums 29 and 32 are, of course, provided with the brake flanges 30 and 43 respectively. A brake shaft 56 passes longitudinally beneath the drum 29, is mounted in suitable bearings and carries. upon it the usual brake bands, 31, the

brake bands being actuated by the brake lever 58. The brake shaft for the drum] 32 is designated 59 and is disposed immediately'beneath the drum 32 and is connected to the usual brake bands 44. The shaft 59 is oscillated by means of thelever 60 disposed in any convenient position. The clutch 27 is actuated by a clutch operating lever 61 while the clutch .28 is actuated by the clutch operating ,lever62, these levers being connected hy'connecting rods'to cperating'pedals or other actuating devices 63. The clutch 37 is operated by means of a lever 64, and the clutch 42 by a lever 65. These levers ar'eope'ratively connected 1 to pedals 66 orother means whereby they may be It will be particularly noted that the clutches (not shown) as the particular means for operat-.

37 and 27are spiral-clutches while the clutches 28 and 42vare dental clutches. Thus when either of the clutches 28 or 42 is thrown'in, the spiral clutches 3''! or 27 will be automatically thrown out in amanner obvious to those skilled in the art.

The clutches 39, 17 and 34 may be of any suitable character. It will be obvious that the clutch 17 can never connect up the sprocket wheels 15 and 16 to the shaft A at the same time but that when 'the clutch 17 is thrown into engagement with the sprocket 15, it mustbe thrown out of engagement with the sprocket lTand viceversa.

In the operation of this mechanism, by shifting the clutch. 1'7 to ya neutral position, both 'shaft B and shaft C are stopped. By engaging the clutch 17 with either one of .the sprockets 15 or 16, the shaft'B canbefdriven at twodiiferent speeds and from this shaft B,.power will be tra'nsmitted'at either one of two' different speeds to the main drum shaft D. By throwing in the clutches 34 or 39, theju'pper drumshaft C may be driven at,

either'one of ftwo different speed'sbyusing the It will be particularly noted neutral position, only. the cat head shaft 52 would be running on one side of the rig, and the shaft 45 carrying the rotary driver 49 would be running on the other side of .therig. Therefore, all

chains leading from the upper to the lower shaft,

' speed.

1,9aaes4 that is, from shaft A to shaft B and all chains running ir'omshaft ate the upper drum shaft or the noise because as'draw-works are at present constructed having a three speedfl -drum, all

sprocketchains are always in operation. There-i fore, there 'ccnstant wear'uon thechains and Furthermore all clutches are constant'noise. open and'the operator need only engage those necessary to perform-the desired changes that may be necessary. The rotary can be stopped or started independently through the clutch'fil'ene:

gagaing-the'sp'rocket 49.

'--In this' rig, the upper drum will operate, the line-for-bailing, "taking cores or'samples'from the bottom of the hole and running the measuring instruments to determine if the hole-is perpendicular. This upper drum can .be operatedindependently of the lowerdrum. and the lower drum can be operated independently of the upper drum or 'both drums can be'operated simultaneously; Speed changes maybe made on either upper and lower drum while :either' is'in operationwithout interfering with the other drum or with the drive for the rotary. The-drive for the rotary: may be operated while both drums are still or operated while both drums are in operation at any desired 'It'willbe seen that I have provided draw works with a power receiving shaft'A, a power distributing shaft B, an upper drum shaft, alower drum shaft, means for transmitting power directly from'the power receiving shaftto the upper drum shaft at variableispeeds, means for transmitting power from'the power receiving shaft to the lower drum shaft at variable speeds, and meansfor transmitting; power from the power receiving shaft to a short intermediate shaft forthe purpose 'of rotating drill pipe. I am aware of the fact' that in standard drawworks, a .line shaft is provided which is the equivalent in a-general way to my power receiving shaft A and that'a secondary line shaft is provided which; is the equivalent in a degree to my power receiving shaftB and that there is a" lower. drumshaft which is equivalent to 'my' lower. 'drum shaft, but. inno draw works known to me is there an upper; drum -in combination with these same. shafts. Further- *more, in the present standard'draw works, the 'power" is not-transmitted from thepower receiv- 'ing'shaft at variable-orztwo speeds, but in the as- "semblyfwhich I have illustrated power is transmitted from the power distributing shaft atvashaft, A' to' the. intermediate shaft, means for:

transmitting power to either upper or lower drum shafts at vari ablespeeds, ,andmeans for transmitting power to arotarydrilling machine independently of the hoisting drums or in unisonwith either or bothof the hoisting drums.

While I have described certain arrangements.

of parts, and certain details of construction which I believe to be particularly effective for the purpose intended, I do not wish to be limited thereto as it is obvious that many changes might be made and manually controlledmeans.sep gaie an' in my mechanism, thereis 1y controlled means for driving theinterm shaft at either onesof two speeds from thefldriy ingshaft orvdisconnecting itentirely drivingxshaft, manually controlled I ans-,3 driving the main-drum shaft at either he fj speeds from the intermediate shaft necting it entirely fromv thejnterm 1a dependent; from the. first, named an trolled means for driving the auxiliary v at either one of-two speeds from the ri v or disconnecting: it; entirel 1 shafts r. =3 l n-a r w wqrk ia ss .a constant ;speed,3,a main drunijshaff drum carried, th ereby', anauxmt a winding drum carriedQth reby aft anua l tr ll n a f intermediate shaft at Jeither one from the' driving shaftpr ly from the drivinglshaft whereby a lower speed .drivingmea cally disconnected when, a-highe sp means is connected betweenthetwo f, ually controlled means separatagiiamde .of the first named manuallyco'xitrol driving the ,main drum shaft a two speeds from theinterinedi" tirelyldisconnectingdttherefrom whereby'alower, speed driving ans. matically disconnected when alhigher; spe 'ing means is connected ,betweenithetw' h and manually controlled means separate an dependent of the, first} and second {named ualiy, operated means. -for drivi "th a drum shaftgat either one, ,ofv o ee r driving shaft or entirely]dishormeetit from, including means whereby a low spe necting means is automatically disco e a when -a high, speednonnect f mea between the two shafts. f V c -3. Ina-draw works, a driving shaft r1 a-source ofpower at a constant'speed drum shaft, a winding drum: carried t er auxiliary-drive shaft, a windingjdr thereby,- an,- i ntermediate shaft, means,

ing the intermedi te shaftincludingf w wheels of dill erent diameters loose ,upofnthe any- ,ing shaft ,andha'ving driving conneetion" sprocketwheels on the intermediate shaft,

ually controlled zclutch means. on, the d shaft for -.connectingthe loosesproc h s thereon with the driving,,shaft t spr ke ,wheels- -loosely mounted. upon the, m in shaft'and of .diiferentdi'ameters, sp oc -mounte,d, upon the, intermediates Y veratively, .connected'tothe-sprockefr; wh main dr unshaft, ma-nuallyoperapl'eclu -th e shaft. associated withthe'l'oose s'p --whe.els thereon, the clutch assoc d larger sprocket wheel being. a jsp ra nd he ch as cia d with-the ocket wheel being a dental clutch, s'pi'oc'et wheels loosely mounted upon the auxiliary shaft, loose sprocket wheels mounted upon the driving shaft operatively connected to the last named sprocket wheels, manually operable clutches 15o .Y- w's ocket sprocket wheels,

' iliary drum shaft,

therefor, the sprocket wheels on the drurn'shaft being of different diameters relative to each other, and manually operable clutches on the auxiliary drum shaft associated with the respective loose the clutch associated with the smaller sprocket wheel being of a spiral type and that associated with the larger sprocket wheel being of the dental type.

4. In a draw works, a driving shaft driven from a source of power at a constant speed, a main drum shaft, a winding drum can'ied thereby, an auxiliary shaft, a winding drum carried thereby, an intermediate shaft, means for driving an intermediate shaft including two sprocket wheels of different diameters loose upon the driving shaft and having driving connection with sprocket wheels on the intermediate shaft, a manually controlled clutch upon the driving shaft for connecting either of the loose sprocket wheels thereon with the driving shaft, two sprocket wheels loosely mounted upon the main drum shaft and of different diameters, sprocket wheels mounted upon the intermediate shaft and operatively connected to the sprocket wheels on the drum shaft, manually operable clutches on the drum shaft associated with the loose sprocket wheels thereon, the clutch associated with the larger sprocket wheel being a spiral clutch, and the clutch associated with the smaller sprocket wheel being a dental clutch, sprocket wheels loosely mounted upon the auxloose sprocket wheels upon the driving shaft operatively connected to the last named sprocket wheels, manually operable clutches therefor, the sprocket wheels on the auxiliary drum shaft being of different diameters relative to each other, and manually operable clutches on the auxiliary drum shaft associated with the respective loose sprocket wheels, the clutch associated with'the smaller sprocket wheel being of a spiral type' and that associated with the larger sprocket wheel being of the dental type, and independently operable manually controlled brake mechanism for each-of said drum shafts.

5. In a draw works, a driving shaft, a main drum shaft, a winding drum carried thereby, an auxiliary drum shaft, a winding drum carried thereby, an intermediate shaft, manually controlled means for driving the intermediate shaft at either one of two speeds from'the driving shaft or disconnecting it entirely from the driving shaft, manually controlled means for driving the main drum shaft at either one oftwo speeds from the intermediate shaft or disconnecting it entirely therefrom, ,manually controlled means for driving the auxiliary drum shaftat either one of two speeds from the driving shaft or disconnecting it entirely therefrom, a laterally proiecting shaft carrying a loose drive sprocket; and a 'cat head, a sprocket wheel on the last named shaft, and a sprocket wheel on the driving shaft connected to the last named sprocket wheel, a clutch for the last named loose sprocket wheel, a second laterally projecting shaft projecting in an opposite direction from the first named laterally projecting shaft and carrying thereon a cat head, and an operative driving connection between this last named shaft and driving shaft.

'trolled means for driving 6. In a draw works, a driving shaft, a main drum shaft, a winding drum carried thereby, an auxiliary drum shaft, a winding drum carried thereby, an intermediate shaft, manually conthe intermediate shaft at either one of two speeds from the driving shaft or disconnecting it entirely from the driving shaft, manually controlled means separate and independent from the first named manually controlled means for driving the main drum shaft at either one of two speeds from the intermediate shaft or disconnecting it entirely therefrom, and manually controlled means, separate and independent from the second named manually operable means, for simultaneously driving the auxiliary drum shaft at either one of two speeds from the driving shaft or disconnecting it entirely therefrom.

'7. In a draw works a driving shaft driven from a source of power at a constant speed, a main drum shaft, a winding drum carried thereby, an auxiliary drive shaft, a winding drumcarried thereby, an intermediate shaft, means for driving the intermediate shaft including two wheels of different diameters loose upon the driving shaft and having driving connection with wheels on the intermediate shaft, manually controlled clutch wheels on the driving shaft connecting the loose wheels thereon with the driving shaft, wheels loosely mounted upon the main drum shaft and of different diameters, wheels mounted upon theintermediate shaft and operatively connected to the wheels on the main drum shaft, manually operable clutches on the drum shaft associated with the loose, wheels thereon, the clutch associated with the larger wheel being a spiral clutch and the clutch associated with the smaller wheel being a dental clutch, wheels loosely mounted-upon the auxiliary drum shaft, loose wheels mounted upon the driving shaft and operatively connected to the last named wheels, manually operable clutches therefor, the wheels on the drum shaft being of different diameters relative to each other, and manually operable clutches on the auxiliary drum shaft, associated with the respective loose wheels, the clutch associated with the smaller wheel being of a spiral type and that associated with the larger wheel being of the dental type.

8. In a draw works, a driving shaft driven at a constant speed, a main -drum shaft and a winding drum thereon and an auxiliary drum shaft, and a winding drum thereon, an intermediate shaft, manuallycontrolled clutch means for driving the intermediate shaft at a low or a high speed from the driving shaft or disconnecting it entirely from the driving shaft, manually controlled clutch means for driving the main drum at either a low or a high speed from the intermediate shaft or disconnecting it entirely from the intermediate shaft, manually controlled clutch means for driving the auxiliary drum shaft at either low or highspeed from the driving shaft or disconnecting it entirely from the driving shaft, the manual operation of the high speed clutch means automatically discon- 

